Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo confirmed he was deposed in an exclusive phone call with FRANCE 24.

“I have been deposed,” Embalo said, adding that he could not talk further without risking his phone being confiscated.

Embalo, now removed from office, said he was “currently at the general staff headquarters.”

Meanwhile, a group of military officers in the country announced President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was deposed and all state institutions suspended until further notice, citing the need to clarify the situation before returning to constitutional order.

Earlier in the day, Embalo told Jeune Afrique that he was being arrested, explaining that men in uniform had stormed the presidential palace while he was in his office.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Biague Na Ntan, the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mamadou Toure, and the Interior Minister, Botche Cande, were arrested at the same time.

He added that no violence had been committed against him during what he described as a “coup”, which he claimed was led by the army chief of staff.